Pollard calls for smarter cricket

West Indies T20 captain Kieron Pollard says his team will need to play more smart, situational cricket, if they are to get the better of the Sri Lankans and claim a two-nil series win when the teams meet for the second time today in Antigua starting at 5 p.m. Jamaica time.

Pollard was one of the heroes in Wednesday’s four-wicket win in the first T20 match, where the skipper clobbered six sixes off spinner Akila Dananjaya’s over, in his 11 ball knock of 38.

West Indies Test captain Jason Holder finished things off for the regional side, scoring a brisk unbeaten 29, as the home side chased down the 132 needed in just 13.1 overs.

For Pollard, a win to kick-start the series was the ultimate goal, however, the manner of the victory is one that left a lot to be desired, with the hosts still tardy in the field and the plethora of wickets to fall in the run chase.

“Every time you step on a cricket field you want to improve. From a fielding perspective, I think we were a minus, and we need to get that into a plus in terms of saving runs. From a batting perspective, we want to not lose wickets in clusters and try to find a way to negate and combat the spin from the Sri Lankans,” said Pollard.

NOT MAKING ANY CHANGES

Despite three first ball noughts on the West Indies scorecard, Pollard says the team is not expected to make any changes with regards to tactics.

“If we are honest with ourselves, that has been one of the problems that have plagued us over the years, the constant chopping and changing when things don’t go right in one or two games. We don’t expect miracles from people and sometimes you have to give them chances and opportunities to fulfil what we are trying to achieve,” added Pollard.

The right-hander said that his team had a good heart-to-heart talk after Wednesday’s narrow victory, and the team will be looking to improve on how they chase or set totals and being smart when facing different bowlers.

Pollard also praised the efforts of his bowling unit, who restricted the Sri Lankans to just 131, with each bowler picking up at least one wicket.